RPI’s Jackson in D.C. to boost innovation economy

American academic and business leaders, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute president Shirley Ann Jackson, asked Congress on Wednesday to encourage investments designed to pioneer tomorrow’s technological innovations.

“If we ought to remain globally competitive, we must sustain the U.S. innovative ecosystem,” Jackson told members of the House Science, Technology and Space Committee.

At a hearing on Capitol Hill, leaders in the scientific sector pushed lawmakers to support scientific and technological research. The experts discussed technological changes since publication of a 2005 report entitled “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” which assessed America’s global competitiveness in an era where other countries are increasing their own investments in technology.

The academic and scientific leaders’ concerns include the state of American education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics _ or STEM. They also warned about waning public and private support for research.

Richard Vest, president of the National Academy of Engineering, said some companies have shied away from pursuing research if it is not economically beneficial.

“Technology moves too fast and the industry can’t afford to do much basic research if it’s unclear the company will receive a good payoff,” Vest said.

Jackson underscored the need for federal support of partnerships between education and public and private businesses, giving students access to working with today’s innovators. She said in an interview that this kind of partnership has already begun, “but it can be accelerated with the right kind of federal support.”

At the hearing, Jackson, Vest, and Richard Templeton, president and CEO of Texas Instruments, stressed the need to strengthen K-12 education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as collaborations between universities and the business community.

“Our K-12 education system is failing far too many of our young people,” Vest said. “We need to improve learning, especially in STEM fields for all American boys and girls, so that they are prepared to enter the 21st century workforce and to be informed citizens.”

These improvements include better retaining undergraduates who pursue STEM degrees in the beginning of their undergraduate years, which Jackson said is where core concepts for research and development are learned.

Templeton said federal investment in basic research — research that discovers basic scientific principles and knowledge — has been decreasing since 1970, while countries like Korea and China are increasing their government support. At the same time, some U.S. industries have shifted away from research and toward product development.

“While it is essential to the innovation process, the long-term horizon of most scientific research conducted at universities, which perform a majority of basic research, is viewed by industry as too risky for significant private sector investment. This is why the federal government’s support for basic scientific research is critical to innovation,” he said.

The Texas CEO also said that current immigration policies are a barrier to retaining highly skilled international students who study in the U.S.
“Today we educate the best minds and then show them the door,” he said.

Many House members expressed their commitment to maintaining America’s competitive edge.

“Other nations are changing their policies to become more competitive, and so should we,” said committee chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas.